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Champagne
Nothing says celebration like Champagne. Tasting Collection has a very big selection of this French sparkling wine. From the biggest most famous Champagne houses to the smallest special champagne houses.
Champagne
Een ruim assortiment champagne
Behind the countless bottles of champagne in our extensive range lies a wonderful history. Many of the champagne houses have centuries of history. And that also applies to champagne in general, an elegant wine that has been around since the 17th century. At that time, Dom Pérignon played an important role in the development of champagne. It would be going too far to call him the inventor, but his contributions were crucial.
As early as 1662, an English scientist discovered that any wine could be made sparkling by adding sugar. However, due to the second fermentation in the bottle, it proved quite difficult to bottle the wine. Bottles kept exploding. As cellar master of the abbey in Hautvillers, Dom Pérignon set to work on this problem. It took him thousands of bottles to get the fermentation under control. Dom Pérignon also worked on new methods for blending wine and pressing grapes.
Champagne began to enjoy widespread popularity at the beginning of the 18th century. This was also the period when the first champagne houses made a name for themselves, such as Moët & Chandon, Ruinart, and Veuve Clicquot.
The name champagne
Where does the name champagne actually come from? That's very easy to explain, because this sparkling wine is named after the region where it is made. Just as cognac comes from the Cognac region, champagne must be produced in the French region of Champagne. In addition, there are a number of other criteria that champagne must meet:
- The wine must be made according to the Méthode Champenoise, a strictly defined method for fermentation in the bottle. This method is not only used for champagne.
- Champagne may only be made from seven grape varieties. Chardonnay is the most commonly used white grape variety, while Pinot Noir and Meunier are the most commonly used blue grape varieties. Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier, and Pinot Gris are also used.
- A champagne without a vintage must remain in the cellar for at least 15 months, and champagnes with a vintage should preferably remain for three years.
There are many more rules for champagne, but the above are some of the most important ones.
Different types of champagne
Every champagne house has its own style and taste. This is determined by the grape varieties used, the philosophy, the harvest year, and the work of the cellar master. Based on the label, you can get some idea of how the champagne will taste. The term also indicates the dosage: the amount of sugar added after fermentation.
- Extra Brut: A dry champagne with a dosage of less than 6 grams of sugar per liter.
- Brut: A dry champagne with a dosage of 12 grams of sugar per liter.
- Extra Sec: A champagne that is not too dry, with a dosage of 12 to 17 grams of sugar per liter.
- Sec: A slightly sweet champagne with a dosage of 17 to 33 grams of sugar per liter.
- Demi-Sec: A reasonably sweet champagne with a dosage of 33 to 50 grams per liter.
- Doux: A sweet champagne with a dosage of more than 50 grams per liter.
Drinking champagne
Champagne is, of course, delicious on all kinds of occasions, but what constitutes a good glass? In the past, champagne was usually served in a spherical champagne coupe, but this is no longer common practice. They look very chic, but the carbon dioxide escapes quite quickly because the glass is so wide. A champagne flute is much more common. This tall, narrow glass is most commonly used for champagne.
Tasting champagne is as complicated as you want to make it. You can simply put the glass to your lips and start enjoying it. Want to take a more professional approach? First, look at the color and clarity, and how the bubbles behave. You can also listen to the bubbles! The more noise, the higher the carbon dioxide content in the champagne. Then it's time to smell. You can distinguish a huge variety of aromas with your nose. Many more than you can taste, which is the last step. Enjoy!
Buy affordable champagne online
With Tasting Collection's wide selection, you'll always find what you're looking for. Take your time browsing our webshop and take advantage of our competitive prices. Once you've found your favorite, ordering is a piece of cake. We'll make sure your champagne is delivered to your doorstep in no time.
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